Influence of Successive Wheelchair Tennis Matches on Handgrip Strength in High-Level Male Players

Alejandro Sánchez-Pay (), José Pino-Ortega and David Sanz-Rivas
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Alejandro Sánchez-Pay: Human Performance and Sports Science Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 San Javier, Spain
José Pino-Ortega: Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30720 San Javier, Spain
David Sanz-Rivas: Tennis Research Group, Department of Methodology and Professional Specialization in MEDAC, 28037 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects on upper strength in high-level male players playing four successive wheelchair tennis (WT) matches. Eight international WT players took part in a competition, playing one match per day over four consecutive tournament days. Before and after the match, the maximal isometric handgrip strength was measured on the dominant and non-dominant hand. Additionally, each player was equipped with one radiofrequency and IMU device on their wheelchair to control his activity profile (distance). The results showed significant differences between successive matches, with decreasing dominant handgrip strength ( p = 0.02, η 2 = 0.043), and there was a significant interaction between successive matches and the accumulated distance ( p = 0.013, η 2 = 0.049). The pre- and post-match strength values of the dominant hand decreased throughout the matches over a number of days, and post hoc analysis showed differences between the first and fourth matches only in pre-match strength (49.06 ± 6.96 vs. 45.94 ± 7.1; p = 0.045; ES: 1.04) but not in the non-dominant hand. Successive matches caused a decrease in the strength values of the WT players, mainly in the dominant hand. These results should be taken into account in the recovery and prevention of injuries in competitions with successive matches.

Keywords: strength; racket sports; wheelchair; fatigue; handgrip (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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